VR Tech Times

In the analogue age, I planned road trips with paper maps, fluorescent highlighters and dog-eared guidebooks. Lately, however, Uncle Claude and Aunty Gemini have lured me into the world of artificial intelligence. When I asked them to suggest an adventurous drive through south Utah, they both recommended similar itineraries. It was like asking the chef at a dhaba to surprise me with something unusual and being served butter chicken instead. Zion, Bryce Canyon and Arches. Three magnificent National Parks connected by smooth highways and comfortable hotels. Our search engine for Utah beyond the tourist trail. No signal required. This route hits Utah’s greatest highlights, featuring soaring cliffs, towering hoodoos and delicate sandstone arches. However, the parks are often so busy that sedans circle overflowing car parks, rather like sharks patiently circling a lifeboat. I wanted roads that filtered out sedans and coaches, demanded preparation and delivered adventure, where the SUV beca...

Going by the amount of social media chatter around any NCAP test, you’d think India is one safety-obsessed nation. Awareness is rising, but safety is far from ingrained in our ethos like it is in, say, Japan. We all know the current state of road safety is appalling, but I’m not talking about driving manners or vehicle collisions or crash ratings. Of late, there’s another aspect of road safety that’s really been bothering me; the road itself and everything around it.  During the rains in Mumbai last month, two girls were electrocuted in a water-logged street. Luckily, timely intervention from a passer-by and medical treatment at a hospital saved them. Last year, an auto-rickshaw driver had his head  pierced by a falling iron rod from metro construction; thankfully emergency neurosurgery saved him too. Not everyone is so lucky though, if you can even call these accidents lucky. A concrete slab from an under-construction girder bridge fell onto a moving auto-rickshaw and car an...

In March 2026, Skoda launched the updated Kushaq and one of the biggest updates was the introduction of a new 8-speed torque converter (automatic) with the smaller 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine, replacing the older 6-speed automatic. We've put the 2026 Kushaq 1.0L 8AT through our real-world fuel efficiency tests to see how it fares. Gets an aggressive auto stop-start system Weighs 1300kg Claimed efficiency is 19.09kpl, 1kpl more than 1.0 6AT Skoda Kushaq 1.0L automatic mileage explained Powering the Kushaq is the same 1.0-litre three cylinder direct injection turbo-petrol engine that produces 115hp and 178Nm. With the addition of a new 8-speed automatic gearbox, the claimed efficiency has gone up by 1kpl, to 19.09kpl. In our real world tests, the Kushaq returned 10.7kpl in the city and 15.1kpl on the highway, bringing its overall average efficiency to 12.9kpl. Interestingly, the updated Kushaq is 1.8kpl and 2.7kpl, more efficient than the older Kushaq with the 6-speed automatic ...

With the Special Edition, Aprilia has addressed almost all the major complaints with the Tuono 457 but what exactly are the changes? At first glance, both motorcycles look the same and they largely are the same as well. This is a case of small changes adding up to a markedly different (and better) final product. Aprilia Tuono 457 vs Tuono 457 Special Edition: Design Slightly different, with a new colour The most obvious change is the updated decals and the brand-new Mamba Black colour. The new colourway, which is exclusive to the Special Edition at the moment, gets a blacked out chassis and swingarm which wasn’t the case earlier. Even on the Puma Gray colour (carried over from earlier), Aprilia has updated the decals so the India-specific Special Edition does look different compared to the international version of the Tuono 457. Aprilia Tuono 457 vs Tuono 457 Special Edition: Comfort Seat, handlebar, and suspension all see upgrades Starting off with changes that are visible, Aprilia...

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Yamaha appears to be preparing a higher-spec version of its retro-styled XSR900. An XSR900 SP has surfaced in US regulatory filings, pointing to the possibility of a new performance-focused variant of the 890cc neo-retro motorcycle. XSR900 SP name appears in Yamaha’s US NHTSA filings Expected to share the 117.4hp CP3 engine with the standard XSR900 Could borrow premium suspension and braking hardware from the MT-09 SP Yamaha XSR900 SP: what the filings reveal The XSR900 SP has appeared in vehicle identification number (VIN) filings submitted by Yamaha to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The documents list both a standard XSR900 SP and a California-spec version, indicating that Yamaha is preparing the model for the 2027 model year. The filings show that the XSR900 SP will use Yamaha’s 890cc, three-cylinder CP3 engine, with a peak output of 117.4hp. This is identical to the output listed for the standard XSR900, as well as the MT-09, Tracer 9 and R9 in the...

Car insurance is an essential part of vehicle ownership, yet it is often one of the least understood. While third-party insurance is mandatory for vehicles used on public roads in India, owners can choose from different types of cover depending on the protection they need. Here's everything you need to know about car insurance, from coverage and claims to renewals and add-ons. 1. What is car insurance and why is it mandatory? Car insurance protects vehicle owners against specified financial losses arising from accidents and other insured events. Depending on the policy, it can cover damage to your own vehicle, liability towards third parties, or both. Third-party insurance is mandatory for vehicles used on public roads in India. It covers the owner's legal liability for injury, death or property damage caused to a third party. Driving without valid third-party insurance is an offence. 2. What are the different types of car insurance? Car insurance is broadly available as third...

Royal Enfield has just updated the Continental GT 650 for 2026. While the mechanicals remain where they were earlier, the popular cafe racer gets a few new features like LED indicators, USB type-C port and cosmetic updates like a black instrument cowl. The Rocker Red colour now also gets a blacked out engine case and cast-alloy wheels, both of which were previously limited to the Apex Grey colour. The Interceptor, the platform sibling, is yet to see an update for 2026 but how do the 650 twins differ? Let’s examine it in detail. All prices ex-showroom, Chennai Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 vs Interceptor 650: What’s shared? Engine, chassis, and more Both have quite a lot in common. They share the steel tubular, dual-cradle frame, the 648cc twin-cylinder engine making 47.4hp of power and 52.3 Nm of torque, tyre sizes, suspension, and most of the dimensions. Both also get alloy and wire spoke wheel options, but not on all the colours. In addition to this, most of Royal Enfield’s first...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/Zuaml4K

While it sells multiple SUV models, Skoda is the only mass-market automaker that has also remained steadfastly committed to the sedan body type. The Czech brand recently introduced three sedans all at the same event – something of a rarity in an otherwise SUV-dominated market. Skoda’s latest entrants in India include the Slavia facelift, the Superb diesel and the Octavia RS. While admitting to the market’s preference for SUVs over the last decade or so, Ashish Gupta, brand director at Skoda Auto India, also said, “If you look at it, sedans continue to be the quintessential car.” Gupta says the charm of sedans hasn’t gone away He cites a lack of focus in the segment by manufacturers SUV saturation expected to work in favour of sedans The Czech automaker thinks sedans are here to stay Gupta believes the sedan body type will continue to make sense for the brand The Superb nameplate arrived 90 years ago, with the line-up eventually including models such as the Octavia, Rapid and Slavia. ...

Royal Enfield has just announced a new, commemorative edition of the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition. Meant as an acknowledgement to the bravery and discipline of the Gorkha Regiment of the Indian army, the variant has prominent hat-tips to the most celebrated army unit in the world. If all of that sounds appealing to you and you want to bring one home, here’s what you need to know about it. 1. How is the Gorkha Edition different from the regular Classic 350? Being a commemorative edition, the Gorkha Edition has a special colour called Gorkha Green which resembles a lot of army vehicles. It features two crossed Khukris on both the side panels, the official insignia of the Gorkha Regiment. There’s also a ‘Gorkha Edition’ sticker on the fuel tank, just above the fuel lid. The overall design and the dimensions remain unchanged otherwise. 2. How much does the Gorkha Edition cost? Royal Enfield has priced the Classic 350 Gorkha Edition at Rs 2.11 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) which puts it right i...

Indian riding gear manufacturer Axor has launched an updated MX Carbon helmet. Built on an improved shell technology from the previous MX Carbon, according to Axor this is the world’s lightest, triple certified helmet with ECE 22.06, ISI and DOT certifications. Available in three shell sizes Uses a tri-composite shell Updated Axor MX Carbon has a lighter shell Pre-orders are open now The updated MX Carbon’s shell is made of a tri-composite (3K carbon fibre, aramid fibre, and aerospace-grade fibreglass) to achieve a lighter weight than before. Available in three shell sizes, the MX Carbon weighs 1,040g (±50g depending on the sizes) and is available in four sizes (M, L, XL, and 2XL). Axor also sells another off-road helmet, the Retro Moto X, but it’s not meant to rival the MX Carbon. The only other off-road helmet in its price range is the KYT Skyhawk. However, it is heavier (1,200g), more expensive (Rs 27,000).  It also only gets ECE 22.05 rating, but does have ISI certification. T...

The third-generation Mini Countryman C is the most accessible version of the entry-level luxury SUV sold here, positioned below the JCW All4. Like any car, the Countryman C has its share of strengths and weaknesses. Here are three reasons to consider the Mini SUV, along with two reasons why you might want to look at the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3 or BMW X1. Funky yet premium look The new Countryman looks sharper, boxier and larger than before. It has grown in size and is now the tallest SUV in the segment while also offering the highest ground clearance. However, Mini has also made it look large, replacing the rounder styling of the earlier model with smaller, sharper and more angular details. Even the headlights, grille and roofline now have a boxier design. From the rear, it is easily identifiable as a Mini, thanks to the contrast roof, ‘Countryman’ lettering on the tailgate and Union Jack-style tail-lamps. It also gets champagne-coloured accents, a contrast roof and large 19-inch d...

Chetak ’s Kerala network has grown from just two outlets to 103 customer touchpoints, as the electric scooter brand continues to expand its retail and service reach alongside rapidly increasing sales. Kerala network now comprises 18 Chetak Experience Centres and 85 Bajaj Auto touchpoints Chetak has more than 50,000 customers in Kerala Chetak sold 3.03 lakh units in FY2026, up from 2.60 lakh in FY2025 Chetak has expanded its sales and service network in Kerala to 103 customer touchpoints, comprising 18 Chetak Experience Centres and 85 Bajaj Auto Ltd touchpoints. The company says its network in the state has grown from an initial two outlets and that it now has more than 50,000 Chetak customers in Kerala. The network covers locations including Kochi, Wayanad, Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad. While Chetak’s presence in Kerala is not the biggest takeaway by itself, the scale of the network expansion highlights the growth the brand has seen in the state and the infrastructure it has added ...